Watchcase.



0. L. DEPOLLIER.

WATGHCASE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1911. 1,1 31,827. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS (70.. F'HOTO'LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. Cv

C. L. DEPOLLIER. WATGHGASE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 14, 1911. 1,131,827. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DUBOIS WATCH CASE CO., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WATCI-IOASE.

Application filed January 14, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES L. DEPOL- LIER, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVatchcases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to watch-cases and more particularly to a novel means adapted to fastening the backs of a watch-case where the backs come together, or in other words when edges of the backs abut or contact with each other.

The object of the invention is to provide such a watch-case with means fastening the backs to each other in such a manner as not to be visible when the backs are closed, and at the same time to enable the backs to be opened and closed in the usual manner.

For this purpose, the invention consists of the combination of watch-case backs and means hinged to each of the same at the interior thereof and completely within the watch-case when the backs are closed.

The invention consists further in pivoting the watch-movement ring to the hinge of the watch-backs, and in so arranging the parts that the watch backs may be entirely opened and be'each placed substantially in a position parallel to each other, to enable thereby the watch movement ring and watch movement to be placed substantially vertically thereto in order to make accessible the works in the ring for examining, and facilitating the fitting of the movement in the ring.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse section of a part of a watch-case with backs closed and operative by a hinge entirely within the watchcase, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the part of the backs in open position, and also part of the watch movement and ring, Fig. 3 is an interior view of part of the watch-case as seen from line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 1 is a vertical, transverse section of part of a watch-case of a different form of my invention, and showing the closed position of the backs in full lines and in open position of the openable back in dotted lines substantially parallel to the other back, Fig. 5 is a plan view with the backs in open position with part of the watch movement ring, and Fig. 6 is a view taken from line 66 of Fig. 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 602,693.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the back 10 is of the type which abuts with the other back when closed, that is, the edges of the backs come together and contact with each other. It is provided at one part of its circumferential portion at the position usuallyoccupied by the hinge, with sockets 9 secured to the back 10 in which a pintle 11 is supported and beyond which the pintle 11 extends as shown at 8. Pivoted to the pintle 11 supported as stated to one back 10 is a hinge-member 12 which has its other end pivoted to the pintle 13 supported by and engaging sockets 14 secured to the other back 15. The watch movement is support ed in a ring 16 having projections 17 pivoted to the extensions 8 of the pintle 11 and also having a recess 18 to enable the hinge member 12 to pass therein on the closing of the back 15 when the watch-case is closed.

It will be noted that the hinge member 12 is pivoted to each back and connects with the same in such a manner that the watchcase may be opened by the movement of one back relatively to the other to a position of more than 90, since the coiiperation of the hinge member pivoted to each back at the interior of the back permits the movement of one back to the other, the hinge member, however, being entirely within the backsand not visible at all from the exterior when the backs are closed. On the closed position of the backs, the edges of the backs have their edges abut or come together until they contact, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, without the hinge showing in the manner as hitherto.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, which is especially adapted to thin watches, and which has backs of the same type as just described, one back 10 is provided with a hinge socket 9 through which the pintle 11 passes and to which pintle the hingemember 20 is pivoted. This hinge-member 20 has a recess 21 adapted to receive a projection 22 of the watch movement ring 23, which projection 22 is hinged to the pintle 11. The free end of the hinge member 20 is provided with a recess 24:, its project ing members 25 supporting a pivot pin 26. Pivoted to the pin 26 and passing into the recess 24 of the hinge-member 20 is a projecting portion 27 of a second hinge member 28. The free end of this hinge-member 28 is pivoted to a pintle 29 engaging the sockets 30 secured to the watch back 15. By the arrangement provided, it is pos sible to open the openable watch-back completely so as to take position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which has one back subst'antially parallel to the other back opened to a position of more than 90 from its original position. This enables the backs to be so opened that the works may be operated upon, when placed in a plane substantially vertical to the backs, in other words, the works are free from interference by reason of the backs.

The connecting means of the backs are entirely within the Watch case and are connected to both of the backs and are invisible -from the exterior of the watch case when the backs are closed. This is an especially desirable feature in the modern thin watch-cases. Parts of the backs have been cut away as shown in 31 and 32, to insure the eflicient operation of the connecting means in the embodiments shown in th drawings.

The structure described differs from those used hitherto in that the watch backs of the cases whose edges abut or contact with each other, are capable of being opened from their original position to a position relatively to each so as to be more than 90 and thereby permit the watch movement to be readily placed therein or examined when therein.

The invention consists therefore of the cooperating watch backs and means pivotally connected with eachof the watch-backs at the interior thereof, and arranged entirely within the abutting watch backs so as to be invisible when the watch-case is closed, per1nitting,'h'0wever, the opening .of of the openable back to a position greater than 90 from its original position.

It will be noted that throughout the entire operation of the connecting means, the complete movement of the same is entirely with-in the watch backs.

Several forms of my invention have been shown, but changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention which has heretofore been set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A watch case, comprising a movementring and watch backs, said movement-ring being pivoted to one of said backs by means of a pintle,- and the second back being pivoted to the first back by means of an intermediate link revolving on said pintle, said link and pintle being entirely within the said backs, and invisible from the outside of the said backs, when said backs are closed.

2. A Wa'tclrc'ase comprising watch-backs, a movement-ring pivoted thereto, and a linkjoint connecting said backs, entirely within said backs and invisible from the outside of the same and permitting the opening of said backs-in excess of ninety degrees.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER.

Witnesses:

C. P. G/OEPEL, L. J. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 10.6. 

